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Chicago Fire are interested in signing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, according to the MLS club’s head coach Frank Klopas.

Drobga, who had been targeted by Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua last month, has yet to sign a contract extension at Stamford Bridge, amid reports he is unhappy at not being offered more an a one-year deal.

SOURCE: Goal.com

This summer may well be a good time for the Ivory Coast veteran to consider a move to the MLS where a new challenge may appeal to the Chelsea man. Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas is clearly planning for the future and with Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku to call upon it seems unlikely the West London side will offer Drogba a longer deal.

The 33 year old Chelsea man has had an up and down season that has included spells on the bench and out injured as well as good patches of form but all in all Villas-Boas may feel that the time is right to move on and allow Didier Drogba to leave for the US on a free at the end of the season.

Klopas has ruled out a possible move for Drogba’s former Chelsea team-mate Michael Ballack.

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Such is football in Africa that only eight of the teams who qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals two years ago will be in action in this year’s event which kicks off this weekend. Notable absentees include champions Egypt who finished bottom of their qualification group while four times winners, Cameroon, also failed to qualify. Twice winners, Nigeria, who reached the semi final two years ago, were banned by their President from playing International football for two years after a poor performance in the 2010 World Cup and their fellow 2010 semi finalists, Algeria, also did not make it to the finals. These significant absentees should still make for an interesting tournament which this year is being hosted jointly by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The football odds see the Ivory Coast as the favourites to lift the trophy with odds of 13/8 with next best being Ghana at 9/2; the only other nation given a serious chance by bookmakers is Senegal who are rated a 13/2 chance.

The Ivory Coast certainly look like a team that should win the tournament outright, they have a squad that their rivals can only drool over and many names that Premier League fans will be familiar with, which includes the likes of the Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo of Manchester City, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of Chelsea, Cheick Tiote of Newcastle and Gervinho of Arsenal. They won all six of their qualification games, scoring 19 times while conceding only four. Top scorer in qualifying was Drogba with four goals, while Gervinho was close behind with three. Drogba is also the team captain and they are coached by former Ivory Coast international player, Francois Zahoui.

The Ivory Coast have been drawn in what looks to be winnable Group along with Sudan, Burkina Faso and Angola. Their first game is on 23rd January against Sudan and it would be a major shock if they did not start with three points.

The biggest threat to the Ivory Coast it appears will be Ghana, who are in Group D along with Botswana, Mali and Guinea for which they are the 8/11 odds on favourites to finish top. They qualified almost as emphatically as the Ivory Coast, winning five from six matches and drawing the other. Defensively they look like the best team in the competition as they conceded just one goal in those six qualification games while scoring 13. Prince Tagoe, who plays for Bursaspor in Turkey, was the top scorer in qualification with three strikes.

Overall Ghana has a good record in the tournament winning it four times and finishing runners up four times including in 2010 when they were beaten in the final by Egypt.

Senegal comes to the tournament as one of the more revered teams, who, like Ghana, qualified with five wins and a draw in their six games. Also similar to Ghana, Senegal have developed a very strong defence which conceded just two goals in those qualification games while at the other end they managed 16 goals with former Marseille striker Mamadou Niang netting five of them.

Particularly pleasing for Senegal was their ability to stifle the Cameroon team, who were the original favourites to win the qualification group. A 1-0 win in Dakar with the goal coming from Newcastle’s Demba Ba and a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture was enough for Senegal to win the group.

In addition to Demba Ba, who has been a sensation for Newcastle in the Premier League this season, they also boast one or two others who ply their trade in the top tier of English football. Included in those are Papiss Cisse also from Newcastle and defender Armand Traore from QPR. Cisse in fact finished the qualification stage one behind Niang with four goals.

Senegal have been drawn in Group A with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Zambia, who they open up their campaign against on Saturday. They are huge 5/11 odds on to win Group A and are 13/10 to qualify along with Zambia for the knock out stage.

The favourite to be top of the tournament’s Golden Boot is Didier Drogba at 5/1 with Demba Ba next best at 7/1. Ghana’s former Sunderland striker, Asamoah Gyan, is next at 8/1 with Cisse at 9/1. Interestingly, Mamadou Niang is as long as 16/1 and could be a lively outsider.

Not for the first time in international football, it would appear that the Ivory Coast look like worthy favourites, a mightily strong team on paper and are blessed with a great deal of experience. come to the tournament in great form and the experience of their world class stars should prove crucial and they can win the African Cup of Nations for the first time in the country’s history.

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Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua have claimed they are in talks to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

The 33-year-old rejected a one-year contract extension at Chelsea and has been linked with a move to China.

“Everything is going well so far, though there have been a few obstacles,” said Shenhua board member Zhou Jun.

Last month, striker Nicolas Anelka quit Stamford Bridge for Shenhua when he signed for a two-year deal.

Rival Chinese club Dalian Aerbin were reported to have offered the Ivory Coast international wages of £200,000 a week but Shenhua have now joined the chase.

“It’s like flirting with a girl,” said Shenhua spokesman Zhu Jun about the pursuit of Drogba on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. “Perhaps she will resist you at first, but if you continue to ask her out, it always ends well. Never give up.”

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Now this is a little creepy. Basically Shanghai Shenhua spokesman Zhu Jun is adopting an openly stalker like approach to the club’s pursuit of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, a pursuit that does appear to be gaining some genuine momentum. Having signed Nicolas Anelka the Chinese side clearly feel they are in a position to lure another Stamford Bridge forward to the Far East.

However it would probably be best if Mr. Zhu Jun refrains from making odd, and scary, analogies about his side’s pursuit of big name players, indeed he’s come up with another one already.

Zhu also told the Shanghai Daily: “It’s like making a blockbuster film.

“When superstars like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Zhou Xun have confirmed their participation, other actors and actress will be confident of the movie.”

Sooner or later he will opt for the analogy that fits but until he does he may wish to just cover the topic like a normal human being would.

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Aston Villa are interested in signing Didier Drogba in a move that could pave the way for the shock January exit of Darren Bent, Goal.com has learned.

The Midlands club have expressed an interest in swooping for the Chelsea veteran, who turns 34 in March.

Drogba is out of contract in the summer and talks over an extension at Stamford Bridge have reached a stalemate, with the Londoners unwilling to exceed the one-year deal currently on the table.

However, Villa have indicated they would be willing to give Drogba the two-year contract that he wants from Chelsea.

Although Villa manager Alex McLeish has admitted he has limited funds to spend in this month’s transfer window, the sale of club-record signing Bent would free up the cash to match Drogba’s current salary of around £120,000-a-week.

Goal.com understands that Villa are expecting a fight this month to hold on to Bent, who is attracting strongly rumoured interest from Liverpool.

SOURCE: Goal.com

It appears that speculation that Liverpool may be keen on Darren Bent is growing by the day and talk of an Aston Villa move for Chelsea veteran Didier Drogba, however bizarre, merely serve to further that speculation. So could the Anfield side really see the England man as a possible option to boost their attack? Well why not?

The 27 year old is one of the most consistent Premier League strikers of his generation and there has been much talk of a supposed spat with boss Alex McLeish, which wasn’t help by the former Tottenham striker opting to do Xmas shopping rather than watch his side lose to Liverpool at home.

There is of course also the link with Damien Comolli, the Liverpool director of football was supposedly instrumental in getting the then Charlton Athletic man to move to White Hart Lane back in June 2007 and perhaps the Frenchman is looking to repeat the trick?

With Andy Carroll struggling to hit form and Luis Suarez out for eight matches and a very real lack of striking alternatives, a move for the Aston Villa man makes a great deal of sense, though such a move would not be cheap and would have to count on the Tooting born striker pushing to leave Aston Villa.

Bent has struck 158 goals from 331 starts.

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According to the Express Chelsea are ready to splash the cash as Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich looks to flex his financial muscles and attempt to push his West London club onwards and upwards towards both Man City and Man United at the top of the Premier League.

Despite Andre Villas-Boas’s fairly average performance as Blues boss the young Portuguese manager will be handed funds to mount significant raids to land four top class players either next month or more likely in the summer.

To help make way for new additions Villas-Boas will apparently listen to offers for seven of his first team squad. Among those said to be on their way are John Obi Mikel, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Alex and Florent Malouda. There is also growing speculation that midfielder and fan favourite Frank Lampard may seek to leave after being told that he wasn’t guaranteed first team football.

Chelsea boss Villas-Boas is looking to reverse the ageing nature of the club’s squad and has brought in youngsters like Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata and Oriol Romeu and has trusted more to youthful members of the squad he inherited, the most prominent example of which has seen youngster Daniel Sturridge go from strength to strength.

Chelsea owner Abramovich will reportedly hand Villas-Boas £150m to invest in the following four players.

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Drogba’s match-winning turn against Valencia, with two goals and an assist, was just repayment to his manager for giving the Ivorian exactly what he craves: centre-stage.

Drogba eased Chelsea nerves on a night when anything but a win or goaless draw would have sent the Blues crashing out of the Champions League at the first hurdle. A 3rd minute strike into the far corner after a pull-back from the effervescent Juan Mata got Chelsea off to a tremendous start, and with Villas-Boas playing a defensive setup, the Spaniards never looked like getting back into the game.

Drogba followed up his early effort by sending Ramires through for Chelsea’s second on 22 minutes, before combining again with Mata to seal victory on 76.

In a performance that was reminiscent of the Mourinho epoch, a time when Drogba strutted imperiously around Premier League defences and prayed upon weak-willed opponents, the striker was deserving of the rapturous ovation awarded him by the adoring Chelsea faithful when he was taken off late on.

Whether Drogba had such a performance in him anymore was up for debate before this game, but huge credit must go to Villas-Boas for bringing the best out of Chelsea’s fourth-highest all-time leading goalscorer.

In choosing to bench the man directly above Drogba in that list, Frank Lampard, as well as £50 million pound man Fernando Torres, the Blues boss made a brave team selection which aimed to tighten up a leaky backline.

Villas-Boas ordered his back four to drop deep, whilst shielding them with a strong and combative defensive midfield core in Romeu, Meireles and Ramires. It was a tactic which succeeded in squeezing the life out of Valencia, who had 67% of possession but rarely threatened to break through.

But for Chelsea, a team stripped of its creative heart, to pose any threat, Drogba had to step up in a big way. And step up he did. Running with power and purpose at a terrified Valencia defence, he caused plenty of problems for the opposition, whilst also retreating into midfield to collect long balls and bring wingers Sturridge and Mata into play.

Villas-Boas has clearly been stung by the criticism levied at Chelsea players and his own tactical ability in recent weeks, particularly in the wake of the 5-3 drubbing at home to Arsenal. Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Portugese hit back at the assembled journalists, saying of the negative comments ‘[it's been] out of this world. Continuous aggression towards Chelsea. We have become a target for you guys and we accept that’.

But for all his apparent anger, the former Porto boss is adapting to circumstances and playing a clever game. Evoking the ‘us against the world’ attitude that served Jose Mourinho so well at the Bridge, and made him into a father figure to some of the players, Villas-Boas is keen to turn the trauma of the last few weeks to his advantage by forging a siege mentality amongst his squad.

However, two vital wins – last night’s and at the weekend against Newcastle – does little to hide the fact that Andre Villas-Boas is a man swimming desperately against the tide. Having inherited a squad of players not able to play the free-flowing, attacking football for which his Porto side became known and which he advocates, he will either have to continue to preach pragmatism over idealism for the rest of the season, or persuade Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to give him a blank cheque for Christmas.

With the Russian already sceptical about Villas-Boas’s ability, and all too aware of the recent availability of personal favourite Guus Hiddink, the Portugese might have to prove himself with the resources presently at his disposal.

That means Drogba will become pivotal to Chelsea success this season, with Villas-Boas accepting that Fernando Torres does not suit the team’s style of play. Meanwhile, getting the players united behind him will be critical for his own survival.

Andre Villas Boas is battening down the hatches and preparing for a season-long storm. On the evidence of last night, he might just weather it.

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Ac Milan vice president Adriano Galliani says he would like to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba on loan in January.

The Italian giants are short up front after Antonio Cassano was ruled out for six months following heart surgery.

Galliani would also like to sign Nicolas Anelka or Mario Balotelli but admits Drogba is his first choice.

“I have been in love with Drogba since he was playing with Marseille,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The San Siro club have made a solid start to Serie A this season and lie in third – just one point behind early pace-setters Lazio and Udinese.

They have scored 31 goals in their 10 league matches so far but Cassano’s illness has left them short on options.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Given that Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas is attempting to set about a transition from Chelsea old guard to a new Stamford Bridge generation one wonders what the future holds for Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast international has had an unhappy start to the campaign, suffering injury against Norwich City, being out of the first team picture and sent off at QPR and perhaps the 33 year old is ready for a new challenge.

Chelsea have a number of attacking options and the likes of Juan Mata, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku appear to be part of the West London club’s long term future and Fernando Torres, though off form is a player Villas-Boas still has some faith in and therefore Nicolas Anelka, Drogba and Salomon Kalou may be on their way out.

Ac Milan probably do need some short term cover up front but Chelsea are more likely to be looking at permanent deals and not temporary ones.

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Arsenal have turned down the chance to buy Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in January as manager Arsene Wenger insists he does not offer value for money.

The 33-year-old’s contract with the Blues expires in the summer and talks over a new one have broken down.

The Ivory Coast captain has also lost his place in the first-team to record signing Fernando Torres and it is widely expected Drogba will leave Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham, Galatasaray and Anzhi Makhachkala all enquired about his availability but his representatives contacted Arsenal personally to push through a deal.

The Gunners are on the look-out for a new front-man to play alongside captain Robin van Persie.

With Drogba in the final 12 months of his contract and coming to the end of his playing days, he could be available for as little as £5million.

But the Ivorian is after a two-and-a-half year deal, while Wenger would only offer him a one-and-half, and is asking for around £150,000-a-week – more than the Emirates club will allow.

Throw into the mix Drogba will be leaving for the African Cup of Nations next year and the Frenchman decided to turn down the chance of buying him.

But with Arsenal’s problems increasing on the pitch, and with Van Persie only ever one game away from injury, Wenger still has time to change his mind.

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba’s future at the club is in fresh doubt after new contract talks have been put on hold.

The 33-year-old existing deal expires next summer and, after failing to agree an extension, he will be free to talk to other clubs in January.

The Ivory Coast international was linked with an exit from west London in the last transfer window, but he vowed to stay and fight for his place.

Tottenham Hotspur, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich and Anzhi Makhachkala are still interested in securing his services.

Drogba’s representatives have been negotiating with Chelsea since he rejected their advances, but little progress has been made, according to the Times.

The hit-man wants a two-year deal that will finish his career at Stamford Bridge but the club only to offered him an additional year and, even then, failed to reach an agreement over the terms.

Chelsea want Drogba to stay and may offer him a deal before the end of the season, but their refusal to meet his demands reflects the changing landscape at the club.

The emergence of Daniel Sturridge and the club’s determination to give Fernando Torres every opportunity to rediscover his best form have further reduced Drogba’s role as a front-line striker.

Chelsea are reluctant to commit to long-term contracts for their veterans, given manager Andre Villas-Boas’s desire to freshen up his squad with youngsters.

Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku as Drogba’s long-term replacement in the summer, with the Blues boss keen on fast-tracking his progress into the first-team.

Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou are all sweating on their futures with the latter two also out of contract in the summer.

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BAYERN MUNICH want Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast forward is out of contract at the end of the season and Germany’s top club are hoping to snap him up on a free transfer.

Chelsea hope they can persuade Drogba, 33, to sign a new deal but Bayern – and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp – are waiting in the wings.

Drogba has already created a stir in Munich. He turned up this month at the city’s Oktoberfest – complete with Lederhosen! The Ivorian has been at Chelsea for seven years after a £24million move from Marseille.

SOURCE: Daily Star Sunday

Andre Villas-Boas is keen to see Didier Drogba sign a new deal but may well not stand in the Ivory Coast international’s way should he choose to leave West London. The 33 year old may struggle to get a regular spot in the Chelsea starting line-up with the likes of Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Anelka all fighting for recognition.

That said, is there room for Drogba at Bayern Munich? Jupp Heynckes has seen his side start the season in awesome style with 19 points from their first eight Bundesliga games and watched as Mario Gomez netted 12 goals in all competitions with able support coming from Thomas Muller.

Didier Drogba is also being targeted by a number of Ligue 1 sides, including his old side Marseille and a move to France may be far more likely than a free transfer deal with the Bavarian side.

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